Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between strength of different muscle groups of the lower extremity, balance and lower extremity functions in women over 65 years.Materials and Methods: A total of 72 voluntary women participated in the study. Falling story in the last year, age, body weight and height were recorded. Berg Functional Balance Scale, Functional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go Test, and Lower Extremity Functional Scale were evaluated. Muscle strength measurements in the lower extremity were performed with digital handheld dynamometer. The relationship between parameters in the elderly subjects was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the difference between the groups.Results: Eight of the participants (11.1%) had falling stories in the last year. Berg Functional Balance Scale score was 49.7±5.6 (32-56) points, Functional Reach Test score was 23.2±5.7 (12-38) cm, Timed Up and Go Test score was 10.8±4.4 (4.2-33.3) s, and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale score was 39.6±15 (12-79) points. All of the tests were associated with lower extremity muscle strength at different levels. Analyzed test parameters correlated with age (p˂0.05). Hip extensor, knee extensor and ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength, Timed Up and Go Test and Functional Reach Test results were worse in the group with falling stories (p˂0.05).Conclusions: Functional score, mobility and balance are related to lower extremity muscle strength in elderly women. Increasing muscle strength will reduce the risk of falls and increase independence.